1. Summary 2. Highlights 3. Culture 4. Getting In 5. Geography 6. Health 7. Communications

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edit Central America Travel Guide

Central America is the thin section of land that links the North American continent with the South American continent. Geographically part of North America, it is made up of seven small, mostly tropical countries that have more in common with South America than the more affluent north.

edit Highlights

Colonial Towns, such as Antigua (Guatemala), Quetzaltenango, (Guatemala); Juayua, Suchitoto in El Salvador, Gracias and Comayagua (Honduras), Leon and Granada (Nicaragua) or Panama City -Casco Viejo- (Panama, where the Panama Canal can be visited as well).
Ancient Mayan ruins in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
Amazing beaches in Guanacaste, Puntarenas, and Limón (Costa Rica)
Perfect Surf, especially in El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama.
View the amazing wildlife in the National Parks, especially in Costa Rica.

edit Culture

Background

The countries of Central America are all former spanish colonies, with the exception of Belize, which was under British rule until 1980.

Until the 1990s the area was subject to brutal repression (except Costa Rica) (Guatemala), civil wars (El Salvador and Nicaragua), and proxy fights between opposite parties supported either by the United States or the Soviet Union.

This dark political and social situation changed with the end of the Cold War and after the peace agreements at the beginning of the 1990s. Now the region is living a process of changes and reforms that will hopefully allow travelers to discover an interesting and relatively cheap travel destination.

Generally, the people of Central America are kind and warm, and welcoming to foreigners. There is a diversity of culture from one end of Central America to the other, but is mainly a mixture of Spanish culture with native Indian influences, and a touch of Carribean flavour.The indigenous culture plays an important role in the region, especially in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

Language

Due to the extensive Spanish colonial presence in the region, American dialects of Spanish are the primary language, especially of the government and in the cities. (Belize, a former UK colony, is the officially-English-speaking exception.) Native languages are still spoken in many rural areas

edit Getting In

Regular cheap flights are available from the United States to Central Americas airports. Very regular buses run from Chetumal in Mexico to the town of Corozal in Belize, a journey lasting one hour and costing around $4 US. You may have to pay an exit tax, or a fee to validate your Mexican visa for multiple entries when you leave Mexico, and there is also an exit tax when you leave Belize.Juan Santamar�a airport in Costa Rica also gets flights, from Europe (Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid; US (Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York City, Houston, Phoenix, Charlotte, Orlando, etc). Agusto C. Sandino International Airport in Nicaragua and Comalapa Airport in El Salvador also have many destinations. Busing it is actually much easier to bus from the United States to Central America than most imagine. It is a distance of about 1000 miles from the US border at Brownsville to the Guatemalan/Mexican border. The trip can be done in one full day (strongly not recommended), instead the wise traveller would take his time and enjoy the many interesting sites along the way such as Real de Catorce, Veracruz, Xalapa, San Cristobal de las Casas, Palenque etc. Bus fare from Brownsville to the Guate border runs about $130USD currently (Jan 08).

Because flights directly to Central America from outside the Americas can be very expensive it is often cheaper to fly via the US. For example a flight Sydney->Mexico City costs about $2500. If you fly with Jetstar to Hawaii, then with Hawaiian Airlines to LA and afterwards by bus (or plane) to Mexico City it will cost less than $1000.

edit Geography

Central American is mainly tropical with many beaches and rainforests. However many of the countries also have tall volcanos and highlands where temperatures can get quite brisk in the night and early morning.

edit Health

Safety

Panama, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica are usually safe. Some areas of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala suffer from the maras (street gangs). The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported last year that Guatemala had the highest murder rate in all of Latin America, with 70.0 homicides per 100,000 population. In comparison, the murder rate in the the U.S.A. is 5.6 homicides per 100,000 population.

Hospitals and Emergencies

Ourside of Costa Rica it is a good idea to make sure that any hospital you vist has western standards to ensure your safety.

Food and Water

Water is potable in most areas of Costa Rica and Panama, in all other countries you should avoid the tap water. As for food it is generally plain consititing of rice and beans with chicken, beef, fish, or eggs.

edit Communications

Internet

Internet is widely available in tourist destinations and major cities, however once you get off the beaten path expect internet to be difficult to find as well as more expensive. The average cost for Internet is around $2.50 (US) an hour.